The following sermon was delivered by Shaikh Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah bin Hasan AlShaikh and addresses the misguidance of people wearing Tamimah (also referred to by names such as amulets / Taweez / talisman, etc.) for the purpose of healing or preventing problems. As we can see that such acts are not only prohibited, they constitute Shirk, which is the worst forms of sin and puts the person out of Islam.

— Start of the sermon text:

For instance, hanging lucky charms and beads around the necks of children or animals, for the claimed purpose of repelling the evil eye or to fend off an illness, are acts of Shirk (Polytheism) and reliance on others beside Allah. The Messenger of Allah (S. A. W. S.) forbade such superstitious acts and stated that lucky charms (amulets, Taweez, etc.) and like methods, will only intensify the disease and magnify the presence of evil!

What benefit would tying knots, collecting beads on a string, wearing an iron ring on the hand or foot, magic spells or writing unintelligible words bring? None. Rather, they will only bring harm, misguidance and spoil the minds and pure nature:

We learn from the prophet’s traditions that “The Messenger of Allah (S. A. W. S.) once saw a man wearing an iron ring around his hand and asked him, “What is this?” The man said, “To repel Al-Wahinah,” which was a common disease among Arabs during that time. The Prophet (S. A. W. S.) said, “Take it off of your hand, for verily, it will only increase your weakness! If you die while wearing it, you will never attain success.””

Prophet’s Guidance on Taweez, Lucky Charms, etc.

We observe that the Messenger of Allah (S. A. W. S.) stated in this Hadith that wearing a ring or a lucky charm will not prevent illness. On the contrary, it will intensify the disease along with the weakness it brings to the body. He also told that man that if he died while wearing that ring, he would never attain success.

The Prophet t (S. A. W. S.) also said:

“Whoever hangs a Tamimah (lucky charm), then may Allah never complete his aim, and whoever wears a Wada’ah (beads), then may Allah never allow him to rest.”

In another narration the Prophet (S. A. W. S.) said:

“Whoever wears a Tamimah, will have committed Shirk.”

In these ahadith, the Prophet (S. A. W. S.) invoked Allah against those who wear beads and lucky charms for the purpose of bringing benefit or averting harm. Therefore, they will never attain success in their aims, nor acquire what they wished, nor taste calmness or comfort, but will instead suffer from worry and depression, because they rely on other than Allah and defy the Messenger’s command and way.

Once, a group of people came to the Messenger (S. A. W. S.) to swear their allegiance to embrace Islam and he accepted their Bai’ah (oath of allegiance) except for one man. When they asked the Messenger of Allah of the reason, he said that he did so because that man was wearing a Tamimah (Iucky charm). So the man inserted his hand inside his clothing, took the lucky charm and tore it off. The Messenger then accepted the Bai ‘ah from him, saying, “Whoever wears a Tamimah will have committed Shirk.” Further, when Hudhaifah visited an ill person and touched his arm, he found a knot tied around it. He asked him, “What is this?” The ill man said, “A Ruqyah (healer, or lucky charm) that was prescribed to me.” Hudhaifah tore the knot and said to him, “If you died while wearing this, I would not have prayed the funeral prayer for you.”

Seek Allah’s Help Only for Treatment and Healing

As Muslims, we are required to rely on Allah alone and then seek the lawful means and ways to repel harm or heal illnesses. We are required to abandon and shun every action, statement and creed that was not allowed for us to indulge in. We are required to raise our children to be righteous and to steer them away from all types of superstitions and whims. We are required to rear them to rely on Allah alone and to nurture the pure nature that Allah created in them. This way, they will trust in Allah alone for each and every thing, invoke Him alone in times of affliction and hardship and stay away from liars and sorcerers. If we apply this good method, we will dissipate all types of evil creeds and statements and erase them from our societies, while preserving our good nature from misguidance and superstitious whims. We should also assert that wearing a Tamimah that neither contains a part of the Quran, nor mentions Allah’s Name, is an act of Shirk. Wearing a lucky charm that contains the Quran or Allah’s Names, is a disallowed act also because the Prophet (S. A. W. S.) forbade wearing the Tamimah, regardless of what is written inside it. Moreover, the habit of wearing the latter type of Tamimah might direct to Shirk and writing something other than the Quran in it later on. Also, when the Quran is hung around one’s neck, it is carried into the bathrooms and dirty places along with the person who is wearing it. Surely, the Quran was not revealed for the purpose of being hung around one’s neck, but as a healer for the ills of the hearts. The Quran was not revealed so that one makes Tamimah out of it, or sell Tamimah that contains parts of it for money, thus acquiring a little miserable sum for selling Allah’s Words.

It should be noted that while all scholars agree that wearing anything for the purpose of healing (or preventing ills) that does not contain verses of the Quran is an act of Shirk, there are some differing opinions about wearing those that have Quranic verses. Consider that the (Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 1/212) states that, “The scholars are agreed that it is haraam to wear amulets if they contain anything other than Qur’aan, but they differed concerning those which do contain Qur’aan. Some of them said that wearing these is permitted, and others said that it is not permitted. The view that it is not permitted is more likely to be correct because of the general meaning of the ahaadeeth, and in order to prevent means of shirk.” (Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Qa’ood.) (Source: Islam-qa.com)

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid states the following:

“Undoubtedly not allowing (wearing amulets with Quranic verses) that is a safer precaution to prevent means that lead to wrong beliefs, especially in our own times. If most of the Sahaabah and Taabi’een regarded it as makrooh in those noble times when the faith in their hearts was greater than a mountain, then regarding it as makrooh in these times of trials and tribulations is more appropriate and is more on the safe side.”

JazakAllah khair for making it clear that even with Aayats from the Quran, Taweez and amulets are disallowed. People are misled into believing (falsely) that we make ourselves secure by hanging Aayats from the Quran round our neck or tied round the arm. Since The Quran is basically meant for our guidance we should understand what it says and follow it in our actions. It also teaches various supplications, but those are meant to be read and offered to Allah (SWT) with sincerity and attention to the meaning of the words. It involves reciting words felt by the heart. Just wearing a Taweez does not serve this purpose. All said and done we should remember that whatever we have not been instructed by the Prophet (SAWS) to do, should not be done. May Allah Help us in our obedience of His (SWT)’s and His Beloved Prophet (SAWS)’s instructions, and may He protect us from committing acts of shirk unknowingly – Aameen!

Salam and thank you for raising this very important matter,I know some Muslims who do these things I tried advising but it didn’t work,and I see some getting depressed and getting ill all the time,I can only try advising them again and praying for them insha Allah Allah will guide them and all of us.Ameem

Asalamualaikum,
Thanks a lot the raising of very important issue. Actually most of these things happen there are two reasons 1.unawareness of some Muslims and 2. some peoples just for their own benefit opened a shop or business and doing these things.
So It is very nice article and we should try to share it with other Muslims.
May Allah guide all of us Ameen

As the article states, wearing anything (with no Quran verses) to ward off problems is shirk. However, if it has Quran verses then it’s not considered shirk (because you are still depending on the words of Allah) and there are some differing opinions on this. However, most agree that it is good to stay away from such practices to ensure that one doesn’t start going on that track meaning depending on objects to look for healing. We have the tools of Dua and other Ibadat that we can use to ask Allah to alleviate our problems.

About the evil eye I know Allah is protecting me. But the Prophet(SAW) was under spell. To break the spell the Prophet(SAW) used the Quran to break the spell. Is there a course of action which I can take in order to save myself from such a fate.

Salaam…this was so very useful in our daily life today as we tend to go to people on and off for our troubles and worries and think they have a solution to it…i admit i was doing the same thing in the past but hope Allah will forgive me for my follishness and forgive me for my mistake and grant me a place in heaven.

Prophet SAW recited surah Falaq and Naas from the Qur’an. He never made a taweez from it. For protection, you should also recite Surah Falaq and Surah Naas three times and blow on your palms. Then rub with your palms all over you. Also recite Ayatul Kursi after every fard prayer and before going to sleep.

Jazakallahu bi khairi. May Allah give us the power and ability to over ride the evil decision of our weak heart. And may He also protect us from the seeing and unseeing evil around us wherever we find ourselves .

Thankyou for highlighting such a crucial issue. we live in an age where everyone is confronted with so many jeopardies that wearing such charms and amulets is concidered to be the best remedy which is an act of shirk. may Allah pardon us all for our wrongdoings. ameen

This article will definitely ensure that people must rely on Allah and Allah alone for their well being and not trust some money minded so called community healers who use the name of the Almighty to lure people and drag them to commit shirk.

The problem of shirk is more pronounced in Africa. It is arguably one of the biggest problems we have to tackle in the continent to salvage our brothers and sisters who engage in using ammulets and other forms of act in the name of ‘protection’ against evil. This article nodoubt will be of benefit to a good number of Muslims in this part of the world. May Allah reward you abundantly.

Thank you for such precious clarifications and advice. May Allah give you the same stamina to continue setting more light on these kind of issues and alike which I think in great need vor certain muslims who are still believing a practising these kind of shirk.

Salam…
Very interesting to read but; how about rings with birthstones; many of our brothers & sisters belive wearing them would bring gd health & wealth; infact many atimes have seen imams wearing them too,,,???

Allah shower His blessings on us all. The bad story is that whole communities hold this belief of using charms and strongky believe it is Islamic. The cause of this is too many Islamic sects have arisen over the years despite Allah’s warning in the Qur’an that we should NOT be divided as those before us else we may go astray. We need His ultimate guidance in this matter. Tahnk you for bringing it up. Please, more of it in future.

Salam,
Jazakhallah khair for the article. This is sorry to say common in our society. I pray may Allah give us the ability of making good use of this article and may Allah give us the ability and courage of advising those practicing this act of shirk. Once again thank you and may Allah empower you to do more in your act of da’awa.

Assalam – O – Alaikum!
Jazak ALLAH for shedding some light on this important matter. Alhamdulillah I am not doing any of the above mentioned thing.
I want to know about the Ayaah & Suraah frames that we hang in our rooms and offices. Is it ok/allowed in Islam? How about wearing stones (which I don’t do) and wedding pictures???
Please provide us a detailed answer.

Assalamoalaikum,
What about “Manzil,” which is basically an amalgamation of various powerful ayats of Quran? I believe that we should read the Quran the way Allah has presented to us through the Holy Prophet (SAWS) and not come up with our own shortened version and then give it the name of “Manzil.” This is in fact a wrong practice, maybe even a bida’at but I don’t know whether it comes in the same category as shirk associated with beads and taweez

yes i have read about this hadeeth before. I think that it is correct that people should be educated that such action is a form of false belief. This can deviate from the right belief that is islamic monotheism that there is no God other than Allah to worship and Muhammad is his messenger. The main contradictory here is that such actions can lead to a misunderstanding that brings to a disbelieve of what is right and lawful.

jazakumullahu khairan. My understanding regardind charms that contain verses of Qur’an is that, it is haram outrightly because, Qur;an was not revealed for that purpose and there is no where in the Qur;an or traditions of the prophet that allows it. Matters relating to conviction (Iman ) can only be established through concrete and unequivocal injunctions from either Qur’an or Hadith. Thanks a lot and I look forward to seeing more enlightened articles from you.

Jaza kallah for a enlightening piece. However, you’ve got to remember that learned people wear taweez and ultimately depend on Allah to cure them through his noble words contained within the taweez not the taweez itself. If the taweez contains unislamic material and you believe that not Allah but the taweez (nawozobillah) alone is helping you then thats haram and shirk. When you take medication, ultimately, its Allah who cures you through the medication, the medication on its own is nothing. Please see ahadith
Bukhari Shareef vol. 1 p. , ‘A ruler of a certain clan was stung by a creature, the people of the area requested the Sahaaba to cure him, one Sahaabi read Surah Faatiha and blew on the affected area and cured the ruler. The Prophet (Sallallaahu ?layhi
Wasallam) even praised the Sahaabi for doing so.

Abu Khuzaymah (Radhiallaahu ?nhu) narrates from his father that he asked Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ?layhi Wasallam), ‘Inform me about Rukan (blowing in water and Taweez), medication,
and means of security, does it change Taqdeer (predestination)? He replied, ‘They (all the above) are within Taqdeer. (Mishk?t pg. 22)

Brother – Your response is correct and duly noted. The hadith you mention is correct but it doesn’t mention the use of any artifact such as Taweez or amulets. Scholars discourage it because it “leads” to the eventual practice of reverence of the object more than Allah Himself. That’s how shirk started in the first place in Prophet Nooh’s time. There were never any bad intentions so to say but gradually it led to that practice.

So, yes reciting Fatiha and practice of blowing, etc. is all good and per hadith. However, we know of no hadith where actual physical artifacts were allowed. Even if we consider it allowed, it raises the question why rely on those “objects” rather than making Dua for example? Why would people not have more faith in making Dua and reciting Quran (mentioned numerous times in Ahadith and Quran) rather than relying on objects and a practice that is controversial at best?

Mashallah excellent read. There is a whole book on the subject discussing the evidences for and against taweez, and the conclusion is the same. You can get a copy from Darussalam in central mosque, London and probably online too.

As Salaamu Alaikum,
Our blessed Prophet (SAWS) in several sahih haadith referred to cure for exposure to the evil eye and other diseases and afflictions, which is wa la howla wa la kowata illa billahi (nothing and no one creates except Allah). Also Ayat ul Kursi (The Throne Verse) Surahtul Falaq, Surahtul Nas and the mighty Surah Fatiha are all recommended by our Holy Praying Prophet Muhammad Mustapha (SAWS) as protection and cure from many illnesses, both mental, and physical. The vital part of reciting these surah’s and aayat is that one’s faith must be intact.

Alhamdulillah, jazakallah khair for your post. It is very valuable information to have in these dark and dangerous times.